Gentle handling of fruit during weight sizing and other operations

ABSTRACT

Bruisable articles, such as pieces of fruit like apples, are singulated, sorted according to property (e.g., weight), and discharged with a minimum of bruising, even if the fruit is not treated with ALAR (diminozide). The cups for holding the fruit are continuously conveyed by conveying chains, and have larger, more steeply angled front and rear surfaces (in the direction of conveyance) than side surfaces so that the fruit will be held in place during conveyance but can be relatively easily discharged when the cup is tilted at a discharge station. Self-singulating is accomplished utilizing conveyors on either side of the row of cups, an overhead rotating brush, and elongated brush strips. The brushes of the brush strips gently engage the fruit and urge it into position within a cup. At the discharge section, a brush having polyethylene bristles of about 4-6 inches in length is rotated with a tangential velocity approximately equal to the velocity in the direction of conveyance of the fruit by the cups at the discharge area. The fruit falls into the brush bristles and is cushioned as it enters them, and it is discharged at a different level on another conveyor moving in a different direction.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.07/248,199, filed Sept. 23, 1988 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,619.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the design of equipment for sorting discrete bruisable articles,particularly for sorting pieces of fruit (e.g. apples or pears) byweight, color, or other property, additional care is being taken tohandle the fruit gently so as to reduce bruising. While prior artsorters, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,595,091 and 4,262,807 donot necessarily handle the fruit roughly, there is a perception in thetrade that the fruit should be handled more gently and thereforemanufacturers of fruit sorting equipment are attempting to respond tothis perception. This is especially so since fewer and fewer packers areusing ALAR (diminozide) to treat the fruit. ALAR gives the fruitadditional toughness and protection against bruising, and if notutilized, gentler handling is desirable.

The two major areas where bruising can occur in conventional articlesorting equipment are in the transfer of the pieces of fruit from asingulating mechanism to the conveyance cups (which then subsequentlypass over a load cell or the like), and in the discharge of the piecesof fruit at a discharge section. Often the discharge is handled so thatthe piece of fruit is discharged in the direction of conveyance so thatit has a large velocity component in that direction. It is moredesirable so as to minimize bruising to discharge the article without asignificant velocity component in the direction of conveyance by movingit generally perpendicular to the direction of conveyance. While therehave been a number of procedures for effecting this in the past, such asshown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,595,091 and 4,586,613, oftentimes a largerdischarge force than desirable has been imparted to the article eitherdue to impacting of the article with a sidewardly moving element, orbecause the angle of tilt necessary to discharge the article wasrelatively large (e.g. more than about 30°).

According to the present invention, an article sorting apparatus andmethod are provided which seek to minimize the bruising of fruit duringsorting thereof according to fruit property (particularly weight, butalso possibly color, or other property thereof) while providing a simpleand economical arrangement.

The apparatus according to the invention includes a continuous conveyingchain elongated in a dimension of elongation with a plurality ofdiscrete article supporting elements (cups) connected to the chain forlinear movement with it, and for pivotal movement with respect to thechain about an axis generally parallel to the dimension of elongation. Aplurality of stations are provided for the continuous conveying chainand article supporting elements, including a self-singulating section inwhich the articles are singulated onto the supporting elements, anarticle property determining section through which the articles arecarried by the supporting elements and properties thereof sensed, and adischarge section in which the articles are selectively discharged at aplurality of spaced distinct locations depending upon the propertiesthereof sensed in the article property determining section. Theself-singulating section may comprise a pair of elongated strip brushes,one mounted on either side of the conveying cups (article supportingelements). The strip brushes are mounted so that they are disposed at anangle with respect to the linear direction of movement of the conveyingcup so as to facilitate gentle individual movement of apples or likediscrete bruisable objects into the cups. The strip brushes preferablycomprise brushes having synthetic material bristles with an unsupportedlength of about 1/2 inch-11/2 inches (e.g., about 1 inch), the syntheticmaterial preferably being nylon.

The supporting elements preferably comprise plastic cups, each having ashallow depression on a top face. The depression is deep enough topositively hold the article for property determination and conveyance,but shallow enough so that the cup need be tilted only a small amountabout its axis to effect discharge with minimal bruising; e.g. agenerally conically shaped depression may be provided. The depression isprovided between front, rear, and two side edges. The front and rearedges are longer than the side edges, and the depression has aneffective greater angle of inclination at at least a portion thereoffrom the bottom to the front and rear edges than from the bottom to theside edges. For example, the effective angle of inclination with regardto the front and rear edges is about 30°, while with respect to the sideedges is about 20°. In this way, the apples are more positively held inplace in the direction of conveyance than they are in the directionperpendicular to the direction of conveyance (that is, the direction ofdischarge).

The individual conveying cups of the apparatus according to theinvention, which are connectable to the transporting chain, are made oftwo different plastic bodies. A first body is of a first plasticmaterial, such as Delrin or UHMW, which has dimensional stability, andincludes a means for connecting the body to a transporting chain. Thesecond body is of a second plastic which need not have dimensionalstability, and is of less expensive and softer material than the firstmaterial (e.g., EVA). The second body is connected to the first body andextends therefrom in a dimension opposite the connecting means, and hasan exterior contour for holding an apple or like discrete bruisableelement so that it will not inadvertently move out of the body. The cupalso preferably comprises a trip tab integral with the first body and ofthe first material and extending downwardly from the first body,oppositely to the portion thereof to which the second body is connected.The cup according to the invention may be constructed by injectionmolding wherein the first body is injection molded in a first mold, thefirst body is then inserted in a second mold, and the second body isformed in the second mold, around the first body so that the first bodyholds it in place. The formed cup is remove from the second mold, and itis cooled. The first body is formed so that after it cools due to thenatural warpage thereof, the first body holds the second body moresecurely than prior to natural warpage.

The invention also comprises a bruisable discrete element transfermechanism. This mechanism comprises: a first transporting means fortransporting the bruisable element in a first direction at a firstlevel; a second transporting means for transporting the bruisableelement in a second direction and/or second level, different than saidfirst direction and/or level; a brush having a shaft rotatable about anaxis, and adjacent the first transporting means, and having bristlesextending from the shaft positioned adjacent the first level; means forrotating the shaft so that the brush bristles have a tangentialdirection of movement adjacent the first level in the first direction;and means for moving the bruisable element from the first transportingmeans to the brush so that the bruisable element is engulfed by thebrush bristles and moves through the bristles toward the shaft so thatthe brush transfers the bruisable element from the first transportingmeans to the second transporting means. The bristles preferably have alength of about 4-6 inches, and frayed ends, and are of polyethylene.The axis of rotation of the brush shaft is substantially horizontal, andthe second direction and level are both different than the firstdirection and level. The second level is preferably below the firstlevel by a distance approximately equal to the radius of the brush.Finger means extend into the brush bristles at approximately the secondlevel for stripping the bruisable element from the brush andfacilitating deposit thereof in operative association with the secondtransporting means.

The invention further contemplates a method of handling bruisablearticles, such as pieces of fruit without diminozide, to minimize thebruising action of handling. The method comprises the steps of: (a)While continuously conveying the pieces of fruit in a direction ofconveyance, sequentially (a1) singulating, (a2) weighing, and (a3)selectively discharging the pieces depending upon the weights thereof,utilizing a continuous mechanism so that there is no necessity fortransferring the pieces from one conveyance mechanism to another. And,(b) practicing said step (a3) by discharging the pieces of fruit so thatthe velocity component in the direction of conveyance is gradually andgently reduced after discharge to a low level, and then the pieces arecarried away in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction ofconveyance.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for thesimple and effective sorting of discrete bruisable articles, such aspieces of fruit not treated with diminozide, with a minimum of bruising.This and other objects of the invention will become clear from aninspection of the detailed description of the invention, and from theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary self-singulating section ofan article sorter according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an exemplary discrete article supportingelement (cup) mounted on a chain, utilizable in the apparatus accordingto the invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cup of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 2 shown pivoted about an axisconnecting the cup to the chain;

FIG. 5 is a exploded detail view of the mechanisms for interconnectingthe cup and chain for the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and end views respectively of a modified form ofchain that the apparatus according to the invention can utilize;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary discharge section of theapparatus according to the invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of the exemplary discharge section of FIG.8 illustrating deflection of a cup to ride up the stationary cam, orpassage of the cup past the cam, respectively;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of deflecting meansfrom that illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of exemplary apparatus according to theinvention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of apparatusaccording to the invention; and

FIGS. 14a and 14b are cross-sectional and side views, respectively, of atwo part cup according to the invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 14, in association with theconveyance chain, shown in the discharging position;

FIG. 16 is an end view of the feed/singulating section of another formof apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 17 is a detailed view of brush elements shown in assistingsingulating action of the FIG. 16 embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an exploded view showing cooperation between conveyance cupsand other elements of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a side view of an elevator belt portion of the apparatus ofthe FIG. 16 embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a side view showing a mechanism for driving the rotatablebrush of the singulating section of the FIG. 16 embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a side, detailed view, partly in cross-section and partly inelevation of the encoder mount of the FIG. 16 embodiment device;

FIG. 22 is a end view showing cooperation between the conveyance cupsand the brush for transferring discharged discrete bruisable articlesfrom the cup to another conveyance mechanism;

FIG. 23 is a side, detailed view of a brush like that in FIG. 22 withother operative components; and

FIG. 24 is a detailed, perspective view of the fingers of FIG. 23cooperating with the brush thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIG. 12, the basic sections of an article sorter forsorting discrete bruisable articles, such as pieces of fruit (apples,pears, etc.) is schematically illustrated by reference numeral 10. Theapparatus includes a loading, self-singulating section 11, a weighing orother article property determining section 12, and a discharge, sortingsection 13. The basic elements that extend throughout the sections 11through 13 comprise a plurality of discrete article supporting elements(e.g. cups) 15 movable in a linear dimension 16, and connected to achain 17 (e.g. see FIGS. 2 and 4) for movement in the direction 16, thechain 17 elongated in the dimension 16. The chain 17 is connected up toconventional sprockets, motors, and the like for continuously moving thechain, the details of which are standard and not per se a part of thisinvention.

In order to prevent the bruising that can occur when the pieces of fruitare transferred from a singulating section to a weighing section, aself-singulating action is provided. An exemplary self-singulatingsection is illustrated in detail in FIG. 1. In this particularself-singulating section, a feed conveyor 18, which may include rollersand a brush rotatable about axes parallel to the dimension 16, conveythe pieces of fruit toward the cups 15, the fruit being guided on thesides thereof by sidewalls (one sidewall 19 being seen in FIG. 1).Located on the opposite side of the cups 15 from the feed conveyor 18 isa cushioning backstop 21, which may be--as illustrated in FIG. 1--merelya stationary roll of rubber, foam, or like cushioning material. Anyarticles tending to roll past the cups 15 will impact the backstop 21and be gently pushed back onto the cups 15. At the end of theself-singulating section 11, and before the cups 15 transport thearticles into the weighing section 12, an overflow discharge 23 isprovided. A wall 22 prevents articles that have not been singulated intoa cup 15 from moving off the cups 15 in that direction (the wall 22having projections 22' thereon which tend to move the fruit notsingulated onto cups 15 to the overflow section 23). At the overflowsection 23 the pieces of fruit move onto a surface 24, which preferablyis a conveyor which transports the overflow fruit in a dimensionopposite the dimension 16, so that it is ultimately recycled to the feedsection 18 utilizing any conventional return conveyors or the like.

Utilizing the apparatus 10, the self-singulating action is not dependentupon a side feed of fruit, but rather the fruit also may be fed onto thecups 15 from the end thereof, that is already moving in the dimension16. End feeding mechanisms per se are known, typically including funnelsor funnel-shaped walls which cause the fruit to move--under theinfluence of gravity, or conveyed by a conveyor--into a generally singlefile arrangement to be deposited on the cups 15.

The cups 15 and the chain 17 extend continuously throughout theself-singulating, weighing, and discharging sections 11 through 13.Where the section 12 is in fact a weighing section including a load cell(it may be another article property determining section in place of orin addition to a weighing section, such as an article color sensingsection), the cups 15 are mounted to the chain 17 with a lost motion inthe vertical dimension so that the articles may be accurately weighedwhile continuously conveyed, and additionally the cups are mounted forpivotal movement with respect to the chain 17 so that discharge can beeffected in the discharge section 13. One form of an exemplary cup andinterconnection of the cup to the chain is illustrated in FIGS. 2through 5.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 5, the article supporting elements15 comprise a cup body 25 which may be injection molded of plastic, butin the actual embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is machined from a solidblock of plastic, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Thebody 25 includes bosses 26 extending downwardly from the sides thereof.The bosses 26 are adapted to engage rails in the weighing section so asto properly effect weighing. Neither the bosses 26 nor the weighingsection are described in detail herein since they are conventional, suchas illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,660,665, 4,413,690, or 4,262,807, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Also machined from the same block of plastic and integral with the cupbody 25 and extending downwardly therefrom are the walls 28. These walls28 extend generally perpendicular to the dimension 16 when the element15 is in use. The walls 28 include means defining a first relativelysmall generally circular opening 29 (see FIG. 2) at one side thereof,for receipt of a pivot pin 30, and means defining a second, much larger,generally circular opening 31 in the other side thereof, which receivesthe pin 32 with a lost motion connection to allow accurate weighing ofthe articles transported by the element 15 in the weighing section 12.Note that the pin 32, opening 31, and related structures comprise meansfor simultaneously mounting said elements 15 for pivotal movement withrespect to said chain 17 about the axis defined by pin 32 generallyparallel to said dimension of elongation 16, and for mounting saidelements 15 for lost motion in the vertical dimension so that saidelements may pass over weighing means in section 12 (e.g. load cell 81)and distinctly separate each said element with supported article fromthe other components of the sorter 10 so that the supported article maybe accurately weighed by the weighing means.

A pin 34 also is provided extending outwardly from each cup body 25, thepin having a predetermined thickness (vertical dimension), and extendingfrom the body 25 in a direction generally perpendicular to the dimension16. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there also is means defining a depression36 in the top surface of the cup body 25. The dimension 35 of depression36 typically may be about 35/8 inches if apples or the like are thearticles to be sorted. The depression depth 36 is just deep enough sothat the article is positively held in place for property determination(e.g. weighing) and conveyance, but shallow enough so that the cup body25 need be tilted only a small amount about an axis defined by rod 32 toeffect discharge of the article with minimal bruising. For example asillustrated in FIG. 3, the depression 36 is generally conically shaped,with the sidewalls thereof making an angle A of between about 20°-30°with respect to the horizontal. This angle A will be optimized dependingupon the article being conveyed, but for apples it is desirably onlyabout 20° or slightly more.

The cup body 25 is connected to the chain 17 by the mechanisms 30, 32,41, 47, and 53. The structure 41 comprises a plate 42 which has upturnedears 43 on one end thereof with means defining openings 44 in the ears43, the openings 44 for receipt of the pivot rod 32. The structure 47merely connects the rods 30, 32. In the embodiment illustrated, thestructure 47 merely takes the form of a standard regular polyethylenechain link, having main elongated elements 48 interconnected by crosselements 49, and having means defining openings 50, 52 at the endsthereof for receipt of the rods 30, 32 respectively. The element 47could take a wide variety of other shapes, the shape illustrated merelybeing one that is convenient and readily commercially available. Theplate 42 is bolted or otherwise connected to the surfaces 53 extendingoutwardly from the chain 17 (see FIG. 2), the chain 17 itself comprisingthe links 54 which are interconnected by pins 55, as is conventional.

While the bosses 26 are preferably utilized in the weighing section toride over the load cell, if desired pins, like pin 34, may be providedextending from both sides of the cup body 25, for weighing.

As seen in FIG. 4, the cup body may be pivoted about an axis defined bythe rod 32, the rod 32 extending generally parallel to the dimension 16.If the pin 34 is engaged and moved upwardly, the elements 28, 47 willpivot about the rod 32, while the ears 43 and plate 42 remainstationarily mounted to the chain 17 via surfaces 53.

An alternative manner in which the chain can be connected to the cup isillustrated schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodimentstructures having the same function as in the FIGS. 2 through 4embodiment are illustrated by the same reference numeral only precededby a "1". In this embodiment, the chain 117 includes standard links withstandard pivot pin connections 155 therebetween, with bars 143 welded toone of the links 154 of selected sections of the chain and extendingoutwardly therefrom in a dimension perpendicular to the dimension 16.The bars 143 have means defining openings 144 therein for receipt of thepivot rod 132.

Note that in both the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 5, and theembodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivot surfaces for the cup are isolatedfrom the articles being conveyed. This is particularly important wherethe articles are fruit, such as apples, to which a wax is typicallyapplied during handling, insuring that there will be no wax buildup onthe pivot surfaces which can ultimately can cause the pivotal action tobe less responsive than desirable, and require cleaning (as in the cupconstructions as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,660,665 and 4,262,807).

An exemplary discharge section 13 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10.In this section, as in the weighing section 12, the chain 17 and articlesupporting elements 15 are continuous, so that there is no opportunityfor bruising of the articles as they move from one section to the other.In the discharge section 13, the articles are discharged in a dimensionwhich is generally perpendicular to the dimension of conveyance 16.

In the section 13 at a plurality of positions spaced therealong,stationary cams 60 are provided. The cams 60 cooperate with a rail 63,which the pins 34 ride upon. The cam 60 is spaced a vertical distance 62(see FIG. 9) from the rail 63 which is slightly greater than thethickness (vertical dimension) of the pins 34 so that the pins 34 mayeither move underneath the cam 60, or be deflected onto the cam 60.Means are provided for selectively deflecting the pins 34 onto the cam60, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10 such meanstaking the form of an arm 65 connected to a rotary solenoid 67. When thesolenoid 67 is activated, it engages the pin 34 and causes the pin 34 toride up it onto the upwardly angled surface 69 of the cam 60. By thetime the pin 34 has reached the flat top surface 70 of the cam 60, thecup body 25 attached to the pin 34 has been pivoted a sufficient amountabout the axis 32 so as to have effected discharge of the article (e.g.apple) therefrom. The pin 34, for the now empty cup, then rides backdown the downwardly sloping surface 71 of the stationary cam 60 until itagain engages the rail 63.

While the cam 60 is stationary, its position can be adjusted dependingupon the articles being conveyed, etc. Adjustment may be provided by themounting mechanisms 74, 75, and 76 illustrated in FIG. 8. Upstandingplate 74 is stationary with respect to the rail 63, and horizontallyspaced therefrom, and mounts the rotary solenoid 67, as well as thebolts 75. Bolts 75 are received in vertically elongated openings 76 inthe plate 74, and received in horizontally elongated openings 77 in thecam 70 (see FIG. 8) so that both the vertical and horizontal position ofthe upwardly inclined cam surface 69 may be adjusted.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the deflecting means in thedischarge section. In the FIG. 11 embodiment, structures having the samefunction as those illustrated in the FIGS. 8 through 10 embodiment areindicated by the same reference numeral only preceded by a "1". The onlysignificant difference between this embodiment and the FIGS. 8 through10 embodiment is that an electromagnet 165 is positioned close to theintersection between the rail 163 and an extension of the upwardlyextending cam surface 169 of the stationary cam 160. As a pin 134 movestoward the electromagnet 165, if the weight or other property of thearticle carried by the cup associated with the pin 134 requires that itbe discharged at the discharge area associated with the cam 160, theelectromagnet 165 is energized, attracting the metal pin 134 toward itso that the pin 134 moves onto the surface 169, after which the currentto the electromagnet 165 is cut off until the next cup with an articleof desired property approaches it.

A common computer control is provided for the components of theapparatus 10. For example the rotary solenoid 67, the electric motor 80for moving chain and cups, and the conventional load cell 81 in theweighing section 12, are all interconnected with the computer control82. Depending upon the weights of the articles sensed in the weighingsection 12, they will be discharged at the appropriate one of aplurality of discharge ports in the discharge section 13, and thereforethe articles will be sorted by weight, or any other desired propertysensed in the section 12.

Because the shallowness of the depression 36 and the fact that the cupbody 25 is pivoted about the axis defined by rod 32 (which is parallelto the direction of conveyance 16), minimum bruising of the articles(e.g. apples) will occur in the discharge section 13.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment. In this embodiment componentscomparable to those in the FIG. 12 embodiment are illustrated by thesame reference numeral only preceded by a "1" or "2". In thisembodiment, two, or even more, linearly connected groups of sections areprovided. For example there is the first self-singulating section 111,the first weighing section 112, and the first discharge section 113.Then, immediately after the discharge section 113, and utilizing thesame, continuously extending, cups and conveyor chain, a secondself-singulating section 211 is provided, a second weighing section 212,and a second discharge section 213. A common motor 180 is provided forcontinuously conveying the chain and cups throughout all of the sections111 through 113 and 211 through 213. A separate load cell 181, 281 isprovided in each of the weighing sections, and each of the dischargesections has a plurality of solenoids 167, 267, or the like. A commoncomputer control 182 is provided. In this way, the same elements may beutilized to weight size two (or more) feeds of fruit, which could be thesame fruit in each case, or different fruits.

It will be seen that according to the present invention a simple,inexpensive, yet effective apparatus and method have been provided foreffecting sorting of bruisable articles with a minimum amount ofbruising. By providing self-singulation, shallow depressions in thearticle supporting elements 15, and discharge perpendicular to thedirection of conveyance 16 (so that there is a minimum velocitycomponent in any given direction at the time of discharge), fruitbruising is minimized. Also, the apparatus according to the inventionhas a number of other advantages compared to conventional weight sizers,such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,660,665 and 4,262,807. In particular,the system can be run more quickly, at speeds up to about 10 cups persecond, due to the construction of the components and the closerplacement of the article supporting elements 15. Also, since the pivotsurfaces are isolated from any wax, or the like, that would be applied,less maintenance is necessary and better and more positive discharge canbe expected.

FIGS. 14a, 14b and 15 illustrate a modified form of a cup connectable tothe transporting chain for holding apples or like discrete, bruisableelements, according to the invention. The cup--shown generally byreference numeral 200--according to this embodiment is less expensive tomake, yet even more effective than the cup earlier described.

The cup 200 has a first body, shown generally by reference numeral 201,of a first plastic material which has dimensional stability, and asecond body shown generally by reference numeral 202, which need nothave dimensional stability and is of less expensive material than thefirst material, and preferably also softer than the first material. Thefirst body 201 includes means 203, comparable to the means 28 in theFIG. 2 embodiment, for connecting the body 201 to a transporting chain,such as the chain 17, and preferably includes upstanding finger portions204 of various lengths. Note that in FIG. 14a, the left hand portion ofthe FIGURE is taken along a cross-section parallel to the direction ofmovement, while the right hand section is perpendicular to the directionof movement. The first plastic material making up the first body 201preferably comprises Delrin or UHMW, or the like, i.e., a hard anddimensionally stable plastic. The trip tab 205 extends downwardly fromthe bottom of the first body 201, to engage a tilting mechanism, and isintegral with the body 201. Also various bosses 206 are provided.

The second plastic material forming the body 202 is a material such asEVA, which is significantly less expensive than the first material. Notonly is it less expensive, but it is also preferably softer so that ithandles the fruit more gently with less chance for bruising. A cup 200,compared to making the same cup all of dimensionally stable plastic (forexample, Delrin), is 1/2 to 2/3 the cost.

The two-piece plastic cup 200 is preferably formed by injection moldingthe first body in a first mold, removing the body from the first moldand inserting it in the second mold, injection molding in the secondmold with the second plastic material to form the second body extendingfrom the first body in a dimension opposite from the connecting portion203, and removing the formed cup 200 from the second mold. Cooling canbe accomplished prior to removal from the second mold, but preferablyafter it. It is noted that by forming the upstanding fingers 204 of thefirst body 201 so that they are essentially straight, that a desirableresult occurs. After natural warpage of the first body when it cools,the straight portions 204 will have a tendency to warp slightly inwardlyto more securely hold the second body 202 thereto.

It is also desirable to form the cup 200 according to the invention sothat it retains the piece of fruit held thereby more securely in adirection of conveyance than it does perpendicular thereto (that is, thedirection of tilting for discharge). This is accomplished by providingfront and rear edges 210 that have a greater length from the bottom ofthe article holding depression 211 than the length of the side walls212. Also note that the depression 211 has an angle with respect to thedirection of conveyance of about 20°, however that angle increases atthe portion 213 above the level of the side walls 212 so that it isabout 30°, or even more. In this way the piece of fruit will bepositively held in place within the depression 211 as the cup 200 movesin the direction of conveyance (that is, as in the horizontal positionillustrated in FIGS. 14a and 14b), however, when the piece of fruit isto be discharged by tilting of the cup 200 about the horizontal axis215, the piece of fruit may still easily roll out, as illustrated inFIG. 15.

The lost motion interconnection of the cup 200 to the chain and likeelements, is identical to that for the cup of FIG. 2 embodiment.

It is desirable to use multi-lane machines when practicing the presentinvention. To facilitate this, a different type of singulating sectionmay be utilized than described earlier with respect to the FIG. 1embodiment. In this embodiment, there are belts between the cups, and atthe sides of each cup lane. For example, in a two lane machine, asillustrated in FIGS. 16 and 18, there will be two rows of cups 200 andbetween the rows of cups will be a conveyor belt assembly 220 and at theends at the sides of each of the rows cups 200 is a side conveyor beltassembly 221. A rotating conventional large diameter brush 222 isprovided at the inlet which slows the velocity of the apples or likediscrete bruisable articles being singulated so that they go into thecups 200 more easily. The mechanism for rotating the brush 222 abouthorizontal axis defined by shaft 223 is illustrated in FIG. 20comprising a basically conventional drive with the drive sprocket 224(which drives the cup conveyor chain) cooperating with the idlersprocket 225, chain 226, and sprocket 227 connected to the shaft 223, torotate the brush 222 in the opposite direction as the direction ofconveyance of the cups 200 of the machine. Stationary bracket 228 mountsa bearing (not shown) which receives the shaft 223, a bracket 228 andbearing being provided on either side of the brush 222.

The apples are conveyed by conveyor belts supported by drums 230 (seeFIG. 16), mounted on a shaft 231 to a stationary frame by bearings 232.The drums 230 preferably are steel or the like, and rotate with theconveyor chain engaging sprockets 234. Also on the shaft 231 is anencoder mount 235, to which is mounted a conventional encoder 236.Encoder mount 235 is illustrated in FIG. 21, and includes a shaftportion 237 which is inserted in an axial bore in the shaft 231, and hasa plastic outer drum 238 including a flange portion 239 which abuts acomparable flange portion on the encoder 236. The pin 240 extending fromthe drum 238 on the opposite side thereof as the shaft portion 237operatively engages the encoder 236. The encoder housing would typicallybe connected by screws or the like to the flange 239. By changing thesoftware associated with the system, different conventional encoders 236could be utilized.

It is desirable to construct the components so that the conveyor beltsmove at a slightly slower speed than the chains with the conveying cups200. Since the sprockets 234 which engage the chains, and the drums 230,are on the same tail shaft 231, all that is necessary to effect a speeddifferential is to make the drums 230 of slightly different size thanthe sprockets 234. The slightly slower speed of the conveyors beltassemblies 220, 221 and their associated drums 230, starts decelerationbefore fruit changes direction, so that the fruit is handled moredelicately.

Integral with at least two of the drums 230 are rims 242 (FIGS. 16 and19). These rims engage the bosses (e.g., 206) on the cups 200 duringmovement around the sprockets 234 to put the cups in horizontal positionas soon as they reach the top.

FIG. 19 shows a typical construction of a conveyor assembly 220 or 221.The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt 243 operatively engagingthe drum 230, and various other rollers 244, 245, 246. The generalconfiguration of conveyor assembly 221 is a conventional elevator beltconveyor (except for the drum configuration and attachments), and itincludes a tensioning and tracking mechanism 247. The fruit is initiallydeposited on the belts 243 just past the drums 230 and is conveyed inthe direction of the arrow 248 (which is the same direction of movementas the cups 200). Any fruit which is not deposited within a cup 200 bythe time the fruit reaches the roller 244 moves downwardly down theinclined portion 249 of the belt 243, is slowed by a drape or drapes250, and ultimately is deposited on a return conveyor 251 which bringsit back to be redeposited adjacent the drum 230.

Mounted between the brush 222 and the inclined portion 249 of theconveyor 221 (and like components of the conveyor 220) are a pluralityof strip brush assemblies 255 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) which comprise animportant part of the self-singulating section illustrated in FIGS. 16through 21. The strip brushes are conventional brushes such as sold as adoor sealer for refrigerated doors or the like. They comprises anelongated channel 256 having bristles 257 extending outwardly therefrom.The channel 256 typically is aluminum or stainless steel, while thebrush bristles 257 are of synthetic material, such as nylon. Thechannels 256 with mounted brushes 257 can be purchased in a wide varietyof lengths and can be cut to size, but typically would provide a guidingsection of at least several inches (and preferably feet) along thedirection of conveyance 248 of the fruit in the self-singulatingsection. The unsupported length of the bristles 257 (that is, the lengthextending outwardly from the channel 256) is typically about 1/2 inch to11/2 inches, preferably about an inch.

The brushes 255 are mounted by mounting means including the stainlesssteel, aluminum, or steel sheets 259. The sheets 259 mount the stripbrushes 255 so that they are disposed at an angle (e.g., about 45° inFIGS. 16 and 17) with respect to the linear direction and movement 248of the cups 200 so as to facilitate gentle individual movement of thediscrete bruisable articles into the cups 200 in the self-singulatingsection.

The self-singulating mechanism of FIGS. 16-21 is utilized with theweighing section and discharge sections identical to those earlierdescribed, except that if the cups 200 are utilized, with the integraldownwardly extending trip tab 205, then the tilting mechanism will be aramp at the bottom of the apparatus, rather than the pin and wrapmechanism such as illustrated in FIG. 11. Typical ramp/stationary camarrangement 264 for engaging and tilting the trip tab 205 is illustratedin FIG. 15, comprising a front portion 261 having a height lower thanthe bottommost cam engaging portion 262 of the trip tab 205 during itsconveyance in the direction 248, with an incline 263 extending upwardlytherefrom. The stationary cam, 264 is moved by an electromagnetic orlike moving mechanism (not shown), under control of the computer, intothe pathway of the trip tab 205 of the cup desired to be discharged atthat particular position so that the portion 262 of trip tab 205 engagesthe ramp 263, and moves up to the top thereof during its normalconveyance and thereby tilts about the axis 215 as illustrated in FIG.15. Obviously, once the ramp 263 is passed, the cup 200 returns to itsnormal horizontal position.

According to the invention, a particularly advantageous and gentle wayfor handling the discharge of fruit with a minimum of bruising action isillustrated in FIGS. 22-24. The chains and conveyor cups, such as cups200, at a discharge section comprise a first transporting means fortransporting fruit or like bruisable elements in a first direction 248at a first level. A second transporting means, such as the conventionalrun-on belt 270 (see FIGS. 22 and 23) transports the fruit in a seconddirection and/or at a second level, different than the first directionand/or level. Typically, the run-on belt would move in a dimensionperpendicular to the dimension of conveyance 248 of the cups 200 andwould be a distance below the first level approximately equal to(typically slightly greater than) the radius of a brush 272.

The brush 272 is mounted on a shaft 273, as by a central collar 274 withend caps, for rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular todirection 248, and has bristles 275 (see FIG. 23) extending radiallyoutwardly from the shaft 273 to a point adjacent the first level (cups200). The shaft 273 is rotated by a motor 284 or the like so that thebrush bristles 275 have a tangential direction of movement adjacent thefirst level (cups 200) in the first direction of movement 248. The brush272 gently handles the fruit when it is discharged from the cups 200 bytilting action of the cups (as illustrated in FIG. 15) by the ramps 264and associated trip tab 205, pivot point 215 and the like.

An exemplary brush 272 according to the invention may be a modifiedversion of a conventional car wash brush. The brush 272 must have awidth 276 that is greater than the width of a piece of fruit, or likebruisable element to be held thereby, and it must have a radius/diametergreat enough to span the height between the first level (cups 200) andthe second level (belt 270). The bristles 275 must be long enough andflexible enough to essentially engulf a piece of fruit that is let downinto the brush, and to allow the piece of fruit to penetrate toward thecore 274 in a controlled, gentle manner (e.g., not too fast). Forexample, the bristles 275 typically would have a length of about 4-6inches (about five inches where apples are being handled), and are madeof a synthetic material, such as polyethylene. The overall diameter ofthe brush 272 is about 12 inches. Frayed ends are conventional for carwash brushes, and while the frayed ends are not necessary, they aredesirable since they insure that there are no sharp points which mightimpale or scratch a piece of fruit.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 22-24 also preferably comprisesfinger means, shown generally by reference 279 in FIGS. 23 and 24,having a plurality of spaced, generally conical fingers 280, much likethe fingers of human hands, which extend into the bristles 275 atapproximately the second level (e.g., conveyor 270) for stripping theapples or like bruisable elements (e.g., see apple AA in FIG. 23) fromthe brush 272, and facilitating deposit thereof on the conveyor 270. Aflexible rubber drape 282 (see FIG. 23) is also preferably providedadjacent and just past the brush 272 in the direction 248, so that if anapple AA is particularly light and does not have a tendency to penetratethe bristles 275 and decelerate in movement toward the core 274, it willbe pushed toward the core 274 by the drape 282 and will not be thrownout of the brush, but rather will be gently deposited on the fingermeans 279.

The transfer/discharge mechanism as illustrated in FIGS. 22-24 is veryadvantageous since it insures minimal velocity of the fruit in thedirection of conveyance 248 by the time it reaches the belt 270 in whichit will be conveyed in a different direction. Thus, only a small bumper283 need be provided adjacent the conveyor 270, and few parts in generalare necessary. Despite the simplicity of the transfer mechanism of FIGS.22-24, it very gently handles the fruit and can handle even fruitwithout diminozide without significant bruising thereof.

It will thus be seen that according to the present invention fruit, andlike discrete bruisable articles, may be handled in a gentle manner sothat there is minimum bruising thereof, yet the fruit may be effectivelysingulated, weighed, discharged, etc.

While the invention has been shown in what is presently conceived to bethe most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent thatmany modifications may be made thereof, and the invention is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as toencompass all equivalent structures and methods.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bruisable discrete element transfer mechanismcomprising:a first transporting means for transporting the bruisableelement in a first direction at a first level; a second transportingmeans for transporting the bruisable element in a second direction andsecond level, different than said first direction and first level; abrush having a shaft rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis,and adjacent said first transporting means, and having bristlesextending from said shaft positioned adjacent said first level; meansfor rotating said shaft so that said brush bristles have a tangentialdirection of movement adjacent said first level in said first direction;the bruisable element being moved from the first transporting means tothe brush so that the bruisable element is substantially engulfed bysaid brush bristles and moves through said bristles toward said shaft sothat said brush transfers the bruisable element from said firsttransporting means to said second transporting means; and said secondlevel disposed below said first level by a distance approximately equalto the radius of said brush.
 2. A mechanism as recited in claim 1wherein said bristles have a length of about 4-6 inches, and are ofpolyethylene.
 3. A mechanism as recited in claim 1 further comprisingfinger means extending into said brush bristles at approximately saidsecond level, for stripping the bruisable element from said brush andfacilitating deposit thereof in operative association with said secondtransporting means.
 4. A mechanism as recited in claim 3 wherein saidbrush bristles are frayed end polyethylene bristles having a length ofabout 4-6 inches.
 5. A mechanism as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising a flexible drape positioned adjacent said brush just pastsaid brush axis in said first direction.
 6. A mechanism as recited inclaim 3 further comprising a flexible drape positioned adjacent saidbrush just past said brush axis in said first direction.
 7. A mechanismas recited in claim 1 wherein said brush bristles are frayed endpolyethylene bristles having a length of about 4-6 inches.
 8. Abruisable discrete element transfer mechanism comprising:a firsttransporting means for transporting the bruisable element in a firstdirection at a first level; a second transporting means for transportingthe bruisable element in a second direction or second level, differentthan said first direction or level; a brush having a shaft rotatableabout an axis, and adjacent said first transporting means, and havingbristles extending from said shaft positioned adjacent said first level;means for rotating said shaft so that said brush bristles have atangential direction of movement adjacent said first level in said firstdirection; the bruisable element being moved from the first transportingmeans to the brush so that the bruisable element is substantiallyengulfed by said brush bristles and moves through said bristles towardsaid shaft so that said brush transfers the bruisable element from saidfirst transporting means to said second transporting means; and fingermeans extending into said brush bristles at approximately said secondlevel, for stripping the bruisable element from said brush andfacilitating deposit thereof in operative association with said secondtransporting means.
 9. A mechanism as recited in claim 8 wherein saidaxis of rotation of said brush shaft is substantially horizontal, andwherein the bristles have a length of about 4-6 inches.
 10. A mechanismas recited in claim 8 further comprising a flexible drape positionedadjacent said brush just past said brush axis in said first direction.11. A mechanism as recited in claim 8 wherein said brush bristles arefrayed end polyethylene bristles having a length of about 4-6 inches.12. A bruisable discrete element transfer mechanism comprising:a firsttransporting means for transporting the bruisable element in a firstdirection at a first level; a second transporting means for transportingthe bruisable element in a second direction or second level, differentthan said first direction or level; a brush having a shaft rotatableabout an axis, and adjacent said first transporting means, and havingfrayed end polyethylene bristles about 4-6 inches long, and extendingradially outwardly from said shaft positioned adjacent said first level;and means for rotating said shaft so that said brush bristles have atangential direction of movement adjacent said first level in said firstdirection; the bruisable element being moved from the first transportingmeans to the brush so that the bruisable element is substantiallyengulfed by said brush bristles and moves through said bristles towardsaid shaft so that said brush transfers the bruisable element from saidfirst transporting means to said second transporting means.
 13. Amechanism as recited in claim 12 wherein said axis of rotation of saidbrush shaft is substantially horizontal, and wherein said seconddirection and level are both different than said first direction andlevel, and said second level is below said first level by a distanceapproximately equal to the radius of said brush.
 14. A mechanism asrecited in claim 12 further comprising finger means extending into saidbrush bristles at approximately said second level, for stripping thebruisable element from aid brush and facilitating deposit thereof inoperative association with said second transporting means.
 15. Amechanism as recited in claim 12 further comprising a flexible drapepositioned adjacent said brush just past said brush axis in said firstdirection.
 16. A bruisable discrete element transfer mechanismcomprising:a first transporting means for transporting the bruisableelement in a first direction at a first level; a second transportingmeans for transporting the bruisable element in a second direction orsecond level, different than said first direction or level; a brushhaving a shaft rotatable about an axis, and adjacent said firsttransporting means, and having bristles extending from said shaftpositioned adjacent said first level; means for rotating said shaft sothat said brush bristles have a tangential direction of movementadjacent said first level in said first direction; the bruisable elementbeing moved from the first transporting means to the brush so that thebruisable element is substantially engulfed by said brush bristles andmoves through said bristles toward said shaft so that said brushtransfers the bruisable element from said first transporting means tosaid second transporting means; and a flexible drape positioned justpast said brush axis of rotation in said first direction for engaginglightweight bruisable elements to move them toward the shaft of saidbrush.
 17. A mechanism as recited in claim 16 wherein said brushbristles are frayed end polyethylene bristles having a length of about4-6 inches.